Improvement in what-nots



-UNITED STATES DAVID HEALD, OF MILFORD, NEl/V HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHAT-NOTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,354, dated March 5,1872.

To all to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, DAVID HEALD, of Milford, in the county ofHillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a certain new anduseful Improved "What-not; and that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of `the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing. e. f

This invention consists of a'what-not, having its frame and shelves soYconnected together by hinges that when desired the frame and shelvescan be folded upon each other, reducing the what-not to a compact formfor transformation, storage, &c., while the frame and shelves, when openfor use as a whatnot, will be and can be made as iirm and rigid as ifpermanently secured together in any of the ordinary modes.

In the accompanying drawing, my improvement in what-nots is illustrated,Figure l` being a side view of a what-not constructed accordingthereto-that is, partially opened and folded. Fig. 2, a front view ofthe whatnot in open form and position. Fig. 3, an edge view of thewhat-not folded completely. Fig. 4, a horizontal section in plane ofline x a, Fig. l.

A in the drawing represents a what-not of the style known as a cornerwhat-not. This what-not A is constructed, as ordinarily, of twoside-frames,B B2, and a series of shelves, C, more or less in number, asmay be desired. The frames B B2, when the what-not is in form, stand ata right angle to each other, with the shelves C between the frames B B2in4 horizontal positions, one above another, at suitable distancesapart. 1

Under this invention, inlieu of the frames B B2 and shelves C beingrigidly secured together, as ordinarily, they are connected as and inthe manner following: The two frames B B2 at their edges a are hungtogether by hinges D. These hinges are of a suitable form for the framesB to be opened from and closed upon each other, and to leave between thetwo frames, when closed and in parallel planes, a space, E, equal to thethickness of the shelves G. To the inside face F of the frame B ofwhat-not all of the shelves C are hung by hinges G, as shown, with asufficient distance between the planes at which they are hinged topermit them to be folded down upon said inner face F of frame B withoutoverlapping each other. The location of the hinges G for each shelf issuch that the shelves can be brought to a horizontal position. 'I'osupport the shelves when in a horizontal position, at their edges f, theframe B2, at suitable point-s, as shown, is provided with wedge-shapeddovetails or projections b, and the edge f of shelves Ycoming againstthe frame B2 with correspondingshaped recesses g to fit over saidprojections, the direction of the wedge-projections b being such thatthe more sh el ves are pressed down the tighter they will be fastenedand held. Awhat-not constructed 'and connected together in its severalparts as hereinabove described, as is obvious, can be folded, the framesB B2 and shelves one upon another, thus enabling it to be reduced to amost compact form, (actual practice having shown it to be reduced, byfolding, to one-twelfth of its full size when opened,) while, when it isdesired for use, it can be set up and put into proper shape, iirm andrigid, without the use of any tool or tools, or any fastening device ordevices.

The advantage of a construction for a whatnot herein described areself-apparent, and therefore need no enumeration. In lieu of hinging allthe shelves to one frame of the what-not, they may be part hinged to oneand part to the other; and in lieu ot' the peculiarly constructedrest-blocks or projections b b for supporting the shelves other formsmaybe employed, as, for instance, simple shoulders for the shelves torest on, spring-fastenings, bolts, 8m.

Although this invention has been particularly described with -referenceto a corner whatnot, it may be applied to other forms of whatf

